AI is NOT Your Enemy
Art by Analise Black
Listener Rich Murray joins Jake Parker, Will Terry, and Lee White to discuss his controversial views on AI, staying relevant, and telling stories in the modern age.
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SHOW LINKS
Comics Creator Head Start Workshop
Self Publishing Pro
Rich Murray: richtoons.com, Instagram @richtoonstv
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Don’t bank on a single skillset for your whole career. Your success as an artist depends on your ability to learn new skills, adapt to the times, and find new ways to serve your audience.
Create your own opportunities. If you approach it correctly, any job can be a stepping stone that gets you closer to your goals. Decide to be the biggest fan of whatever work you’re creating at the moment.
Overdeliver for your clients. Shock them with how much attention to detail and extra care you put into their projects.
No matter what tools you choose, become a stellar storyteller.
You can be scared of AI or you can seek to understand it. Whether you support it or not, it’s part of our reality now, so discover what you can and learn how to leverage it for your benefit if you so desire.
Listener Rich Murray, a Canadian illustrator, animator, cartoonist, and graphic designer (among other things), wrote into the show with his perspective on AI. Rich says,
“I've been seeing a post going around on Facebook from a ‘displaced graphic designer’ about how they ‘lost their job to AI.’ It goes on at some length about how they were let go and can not find further employment for what sounds like their fairly singular skill. I do feel for this person. BUT. I’m a freelance animator and I’m booked for work through next year for projects that will earn me six figures a year. But I also illustrate, do graphic design, program, write scripts, edit videos, and market myself in a way that works for me (mostly on LinkedIn). I've designed apps and mobile games, illustrated kids' books and comics, designed brands, and animated numerous explainer videos (many of which I authored the scripts for) for high-end clients. I also adopt new technologies into my process, including about a dozen different AI technologies so far.
“I’m tired of hearing the whining about AI from artists. If you were banking on one skill for the rest of your life in these times, you set yourself up to lose. Ted Serandos, CEO of Netflix, said it best: ‘AI won’t take your job, but someone who knows how to use AI tools well WILL take your job.’ I'm currently turning down projects because I can't fit them in between now and next spring, and I'm what most artists would consider an old guy. I'm close enough to sixty that I can punch it in the mouth. And there's no end to work for me in sight. I know this sounds like a brag, but it's more of a call to artists to learn how to tell compelling stories for their clients in different ways, to communicate with their clients in clear and effective ways, and to do great work no matter what the medium. I don't need AI or even a lot of software to do this. I can always go back to a pencil and paper. But everyone needs to be prepared for their marketplace to change. Be interested in these changes. Be ahead of the curve instead of complaining that the world has left you behind. I'm having more fun and being more creative than ever.”
What are your thoughts? Share them in the YouTube comments or on our forum!
LINKS
Jake Parker: mrjakeparker.com. Instagram: @jakeparker, Youtube: JakeParker44
Will Terry: willterry.com. Instagram: @willterryart, Youtube: WillTerryArt
Lee White: leewhiteillustration.com. Instagram: @leewhiteillo
Daniel Tu: danieltu.co.
Lily Camille Howell: lilycamille.com
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